'Hahner's Line' draws line

Explosive trio wreaks havoc on CHL defenses

It's known in locker rooms around the Central Hockey League as one of the most dangerous and productive scoring lines in the league.

It's comprised of center Derek Hahn, left winger Scott Wray and right winger Joe Guenther. Hahn's vision and puck-handling, Wray's play-making skills and Guenther's strength and scoring touch make it one of the most diverse and balanced lines in the league.

That line will lead the Gorillas against Odessa tonight in Game 3 of a best-of-seven Southern Conference semifinals series. The Gorillas are up 2-0 in the series after a 4-1 win Friday and a 4-3 overtime win Saturday - both in Cal Farley Coliseum. Games 3, 4 and 5 are scheduled in Odessa.

"In pro hockey, the good lines are the ones with players that complement each other well," Gorillas coach Joe Ferras said. "We've got a centerman that can make things happen and wants the puck all the time. Scott Wray is a guy who can score, and that's great for production. Joe is so strong on the wall, and he can finish as well."

In leading the Gorillas to their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, the scoring line of Hahn, Wray and Guenther produced 104 goals during the regular season, tops in the league.

Hahn was voted the CHL's Most Valuable Player, leading the league in scoring with 114 points on 35 goals and 79 assists. Wray, who along with Hahn has been a part of all four playoff teams, signed Nov. 25 after starting the year with the London Racers. In 52 games he has recorded 76 points on 38 goals and 38 assists.

Amarillo vs. Odessa

What: Game 3 of a Central Hockey League Southern Conference semifinal series.

When: 7 tonight at Ector County Coliseum in Odessa.

The Series: Amarillo leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.

Radio: KPUR (1440-AM)

Hahn and Wray were voted to the Southern Conference All-Star team. Had Guenther started the season in Amarillo, he might have cracked the All-Star lineup as well. Guenther came over in a trade with Tulsa on Dec. 10. In 44 regular-season games with the Gorillas, he scored 50 points on 31 goals and 19 assists.

"The effort is there every night," Wray said. "Good things happen when you work hard, and every night we're going out there knowing that we're the better line, and we want to prove it every night."

Guenther scored just four points in 15 games with Tulsa before the trade. Guenther wasn't getting near the opportunities to make plays in Tulsa as he is getting in Amarillo.

After about a week of working Guenther in with different lines, Ferras made the decision to permanently place Guenther with Hahn and Wray.

"As soon as he put us together, we just jelled together right away," Guenther said. "We just knew where each of the others was going to be. To me, it seemed like we had been playing together for years."

Ferras said Hahn's hockey sense and on-ice vision is as good as any player he has seen and said Wray's and Guenther's skills accentuate that vision.

"Right away we seemed to click," Hahn said. "I think it helps me a lot that they want to score and like to score. They work hard to get open for me. They're the type of players who'll fight through checks to find the open ice."

While the line of center Rich Hansen, Keith Rowe and Brent Hughes leads the Gorillas in the postseason with nine combined points in two games - including two game-winning goals from Rowe - Hahn's line has produced eight points. Hahn has two goals and two assists, and Wray and Guenther have a goal and an assist apiece.

With the Gorillas down 2-0 in the first period of Game 2, Guenther scored on an assist from Wray and Hahn to make it 2-1, and Hahn scored a shorthanded goal unassisted on a steal and a breakaway to tie the game at 2-2 at the break.

"We've got three guys who want the puck, want to score and want to win," Ferras said. "They want to make things happen."